Thanksgiving is Good for Early Takers
By Dianne Anderson
To get a jump on the coveted free turkeys, parents will rise early, bundle the kids for the nippy morning back to back lines all over the Inland Empire to ensure their odds of securing the family feast.
This Thanksgiving, local nonprofits are coming through with turkeys for those that either pre-registered, or show up early for first come first serve bags of food galore that are sure to go quickly.
On Friday, November 17, Pastor Paul Jones said that his event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and is open to everyone in need. He encourages the community to get there, the earlier the better for the turkey giveaway hosted at Perris Hill Senior Center, located at 780 East 21st Street.
“I think we have enough to feed 600 people,” said Jones, founder of the Benjamin E. Jones Community Resource Center. “We’re asking everyone to be in vehicles only, no walk-ups. If you happen to not have a car, ask someone if you can ride with them.”
This year, they are doing drive-in only because in the past, people have tried to park illegally and walk in to get in line.
Jones said although Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino notified him that they could not provide turkeys for his nonprofit this year, he has received sizable donations from a Los Angeles partner and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians for a combined 600 turkeys in all.
Jones spoke at an Institute for Community Partnerships (ICP) at Loma Linda University Health about his work and food help in the community – specifically on the homeless, their needs, and living in transit.
He shared how one local man, once a millionaire, invited Jones to his new home that, at best, could house two.
“We talked and talked and I got off the ground and walked outside and prayed with him. His home was his tent,” he said. “His houses, cars, clothes, everything he used to have, and he said now this is the only house I have.”
Jones told the man that he would return, but the man said he probably wouldn’t be there. Usually, the homeless get run out of wherever they set up. Later that week, he was not to be found.
For any number of reasons, a lot of different kinds of people fall on hard times.
Owen Duckworth, executive director of Inland Empire Rebound, tries to reach those who prefer to stay under the radar. He brings families of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated parents together with their children, and their guardians.
Grandmothers, aunts, and formerly incarcerated all sit down to enjoy a meal and the day.
“We give each kid a gift basket. This year we’re giving away PS5s, laptops and tablets for the kids to have games and fun, but it’s just to have the family reunification,” said Duckworth, who is also formerly incarcerated.
His sponsors include law enforcement, public defenders, parole, along with the District Attorney’s office, sheriff’s department and probation, which provide gift cards for his program to buy turkeys and hams. He also received a lot of help from Sam Casey with the Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE).
Thanksgiving baskets are available for their families to pick up, and he delivers if needed.
“We put everything in the basket they would need to make the [meal] potato salad, cakes pies, green beans,” he said. “That’s what we’re doing this week on behalf of the incarcerated parents for 300 families that we will touch.”
Along with his recently added programming for adult mentoring and life skills, he also works with about 180 youth at his three centers.
Growing up in the south, Duckworth said holidays were a very important time for families.
“Some of these individuals that came back home are doing all they can to get custody, to just sit down and fill that gap for them to come out for a night of fun and dinner with the kids,” he said.
On November 18, the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County Tippecanoe location parking lot plans to serve 1,000 families through their partnership with the Young Visionaries Turkey Giveaway.
Xiomara Henriquez-Ortega said pre-registration for that giveaway was required, but it is already full.
On November 20, another giveaway will be held at Joshua Tree Elementary where they will serve 500 families with turkeys and holiday food boxes. No registration is required there, and it is first come first serve basis.
Henriquez-Ortega, manager of administrative support at CAPSBC, said the organization also supports 30 organizations in hosting Thanksgiving events throughout the county by providing turkeys and food boxes to distribute to the communities.
“The number of organizations we are supporting this year will be greater once we issue hams and food boxes to be distributed in December,” she said in an email.
This year, she said the agency procured 6,750 turkeys; 8,150 hams; and 2,100 holiday food boxes to serve families throughout San Bernardino County. The total value of the items Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays purchased for distribution is estimated at $450,000.
“Mrs. Nickols-Butler is committed to serving our residents. Her wish is to make the holiday season special for families by providing a turkey and accompanying dishes for them to enjoy together this holiday season. Understanding the high food prices, CAPSBC has a commitment to address hunger and food insecurity in our county. Our Food Bank serves over 60,000 households per month across all programs with the help of our food distribution network,” said Henriquez-Ortega.
Because supplies are limited this year, many nonprofits are calling for registration or be early for first come, first serve. To participate, see
For Arrowhead Campus, The Way World Outreach, see
https://thewayworldoutreach.org/thanksgivingdinner/
In Rialto
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/never-stop-grinding-impact-turkey-giveaway-registration-698232190277
In Rancho Cucamonga
https://ksgn.com/events/event/11046-family-to-family-thanksgiving-food-giveaway
For San Bernardino Veterans
For the Benjamin Jones Resource Center, see https://www.bejcrc.org/
For IERebound information, see https://www.ierebound.org
For Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County, see http://www.capsbc.org/
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